Residents escape from Sunday morning blaze

Monday

Dec 29, 2008 at 7:57 AM

A blaze, which started in a makeshift “smoking table,” damaged a building Sunday morning, Gainesville Fire Rescue reported.

By Lise FisherStaff writer

A blaze, which started in a makeshift “smoking table,” damaged a building Sunday morning, Gainesville Fire Rescue reported.Firefighters were contacted about a fire at a cottage at 1000 SW 6th Ave. at about 5:30 a.m., according to Public Information Officer Carol Davis.Rescuers arrived to find smoke coming from the building and forced their way inside. Two people were found in the home and safely brought outside. Three others at the residence had already left the cottage, and there were no reports of any injuries. The fire was put out in about 10 minutes.Davis reported the blaze started in a dresser outside the building that had been used as a “smoking table.”People inside the home were asleep when the blaze started. A smoke detector had not been installed in the building, firefighters reported.